We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Taylor Austin a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Taylor, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea

From the moment I enrolled in esthetics school, I was all-in on specializing in Sugaring, a unique hair removal method. I became certified before graduating because it wasn’t available in my area. Working for someone briefly after school was valuable ; I learned what I wanted and what I wanted to avoid. I knew I wanted to open my own Sugaring studio, so I started making things happen. For the last four months I worked for someone else, I saved every penny to reinvest in my business. I had to find the perfect location, purchase all the equipment for the spa, and secure necessary licenses and insurance. I managed all the business essentials while also working a part-time job to stay afloat and turn my dream into reality, while also working for someone else at their spa. Once my studio was ready, the transition happened almost overnight; the first eight months were amazing with a constant flow of clients following me from my previous sugaring studio and a wave of new ones. I was on a high and grateful. Eight months in, the world shut down for COVID, and so did my new business. The first month of lockdown, I admit I felt sorry for myself. Month two, I refocused, learning how to rejuvenate income while not being in the studio by selling aftercare products, gift cards, and sugaring packages. I also took the opportunity to further my education with online courses. I was able to sit with myself, refocus my future goals, and determine what I wanted my business and personal goals to look like to achieve overall personal success. Years later, my business is thriving. Even on challenging days, I take them as lessons on how to grow and overcome obstacles.

Taylor, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

so I am a licenced esthetician , which means a glorified skin care expert. my specialty is hair removal , I myself suffer from very sensitive skin , so I knew I wanted to bring a alternative form of hair removal to my area that most clients could benefit from , this is called the sugaring method. Sugaring is less harsh on the skin , it removes dead skin cells as opposed to live skin cells making the skin less reactive in most cases, I also provide other services such as brow tinting and lash lifts and tints but I provide full body sugaring. when I got certified in Sugaring I knew I wanted to specialize in intimate hair removal , so yes I do Brazilians all day long. the reason for this is my self have had very painful and uncomfortable experiences when getting intimate hair removed , and hearing other talk about there experiences I knew I wanted to provide a more comfortable space for clients while getting a uncomfortable service done. I’m very knowledgeable with my craft and well educated , I take pride in keeping up with the latest tips and tricks when it comes to Sugaring . I also have girls who rent from me in my spa that offer luxury skin care services , I love the fact that my spa offers different kinds of services depending on what the needs of the client are. Entering my studio is like a vibe ,I take pride in offering top of the line services , but its the warmness you feel when you enter my space that makes it a experience , weather iv been seeing you for 8 years or you are a first time client I make you feel at ease and comfortable . I’m just me through and through I have a big heart that I share with each and every person who comes through my spas door .I thought that winning best spa in my area would be my ultimate achievement in my career but its not, my ultimate achievement has been maintaining my relationships with my clients through the years and knowing them like family.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

A lesson I had to unlearn in my industry is overthinking and learning to be content. In the beginning of my career, if a client wouldn’t rebook, I would get so caught up in trying to figure out why, thinking it was always my fault. Nine times out of ten, they would return, and it was just me overthinking. Fast forward eight years, and I’ve reached a point where I don’t worry if I’ve seen someone for a long time. I appreciate their business, but if schedules or personalities no longer align, I’m okay with losing the client. I’m comfortable realizing I’m not for everyone, but I am the right fit for the right people, both personally and professionally.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I’ve experienced legitimate burnout twice: once in my early twenties while working three jobs and attending school, and recently. Burnout is an unrelenting exhaustion that impacts both work and home life. Both times, I had serious self-reflection. Burning the candle at both ends is neither healthy nor sustainable. I had to pause, reset, and refocus. I reevaluated my business operations and how they clashed with my home life. I was overworked and exhausted. I had to re-evaluate my expectations for myself and my business, realizing I’m only one person and that overextending myself is detrimental to everyone.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sugarandglow.com
• Instagram: Sugarandglowstudio
• Facebook: sugar and glow

Image Credits

Jackson and Johnny photography

Shaylee Mudd